“In 1935, 23 individuals attending the annual convention of the National Education Association in Denver, met for breakfast at the Olin Hotel to discuss the need for a formal organization dealing with school-community relations. The group was one-third educators, one-third writers, and one-third crusaders who had exchanged ideas for 10 years on better techniques, methods and materials for reporting and promoting the progress of public schools.” — NSPRA Paragraphs newsletter, October 1984
A. Helen Anderson (1891-1975), NSPRA co-founder and first President, was a teacher and director of publications for Denver Public Schools (1929-1956).
The first publication in the association archives is Trends in School Public Relations, and the first issue preserved is dated December-January 1945-46.
Early association newsletters suggest that NSPRA held two meetings annually — one in February in conjunction with the annual meeting of the American Association of School Administrators and one in June/July.
“Television is becoming such an important public relations medium that it will have to be considered in all future planning. If a TV station operates in your area, you have an excellent PR opportunity NOW.” — Trends in School Public Relations member newsletter, May 1948
In 1950, the association was granted departmental status of the National Education Association and was renamed the National School Public Relations Association.
“Although school mimeographing work is frequently sloppy, excellent reports can be produced in this fashion if proper care is exercised in production.” - Trends in School Public Relations member newsletter, Jan. 1954
The first NSPRA National Seminar was held June 28, 1954, at Hotel Statler in New York City.
The NSPRA Executive Board approved a Code of Ethics for the association at its March 1970 meeting.
NSPRA launched its Accreditation in School Public Relations program, which operated for 22 years before the association joined eight others in forming the Universal Accreditation Board to offer the Accreditation in Public Relations credential.
Dr. John H. Wherry, ASPR, became the second executive director of NSPRA following Roy K. Wilson's retirement in 1976.
NSPRA became independent of the National Education Association in 1979.
“I've always said the best public relations practitioners are school communicators because we've always been asked to do it all. We don't need big staffs to accomplish things. And the people that go into the field have a real passion for what they do.” – Ann Barkelew, APR, 1979-80 NSPRA President
Nine school districts were presented with the first Gold Medallion Awards at the NSPRA National Seminar in Phoenix for their outstanding educational public relations programs.
“Cable TV will be the communication vehicle of the 80s.” – NSPRA Paragraphs member newsletter, Dec./Jan. 1982
NSPRA celebrates its 50 year anniversary.
NSPRA’s Flag of Learning and Liberty was carried aboard the Challenger space shuttle by heroic teacher-astronaut Christa McAuliffe. The flag was returned to NSPRA President Lew Armistead (right) by NASA official Robert W. Brown in a special ceremony at the NSPRA 1987 National Seminar.
Dr. Joe Scherer was named the third executive director in NSPRA's history in 1989.
In 1992, Rich Bagin, APR, takes the helm as the association's fourth executive director. He would go on to lead NSPRA for 23 years.
Burnadine Moss Anderson, APR, was a pioneering voice for inclusive, community-centered school communication. A dedicated mentor and longtime member, she made history as NSPRA’s first Black president in 1996-97.
“It would take six weeks to complete an issue of the district newsletter. We’d write it, send it to the print shop, proof it and send it back to print. Then we’d mail it. One day, our graphic designer asked if we should post the newsletter on the internet. And I said, ‘The whole newsletter?’ She said, ‘Sure.’ I said ‘How hard is that to do?’ She said, ‘I'll press this button right here.’ I said, ‘Who will see it?’ She said, ‘Everybody on earth.’ I said, ‘But how much does it cost?’ And she said, ‘It's free.’ And I knew that day that our world had changed forever.” - Steve Knagg, 1991-92 NSPRA President in 2025 reflecting on school PR in the late 90's.
“I arrived on scene shortly after we received word at the central office that some sort of shots had been fired at the high school. It was chaotic. Police were arriving along with rescue vehicles. With my background as an EMT and trained paramedic, I began rendering first aid and triage.” - Rick Kaufman, APR, executive director of public engagement and communications for the Jefferson County (Colo.) Public School District in 1999.
NSPRA became a member of the Learning First Alliance, an umbrella organization representing national education leadership organizations.
NSPRA launched the Superintendents to Watch awards program to recognize new school system leaders who advocate and champion school communication.
The COVID-19 pandemic transformed the education landscape. School communicators became central to crisis response as they managed rapid shifts to virtual learning, evolving safety protocols and growing community concern. NSPRA expanded its professional development, communication guidance and real-time member support to meet the moment.
“The National School Public Relations Association is full of the most dynamic, creative and ingenious people I know.” - Lesley Bruinton, APR, NSPRA President 2020-21
Barbara M. Hunter, APR, was named NSPRA's fifth executive director in 2020.
“AI is here and it’s here to stay, and it’s moving at break-neck speed. It may initially seem strange or off-putting, but over time we might find that AI can be an integral and valuable part of our work.” - Rebecca Bultsma, Director of Communications, Westwind School Division, Alberta, Canada
Dirk Tedmon, APR, executive director of marketing and communications for Eden Prairie Schools in Eden Prairie, Minn., was named the inaugural recipient of the National School Communicator of the Year Award in 2024.
NSPRA celebrates its 90th anniversary.
We'd love to hear from you. Please send questions or feedback to the below email addresses.
Before contacting us, you may wish to visit our FAQs page which has lots of useful info on Tiki-Toki.
We can be contacted by email at: hello@tiki-toki.com.
You can also follow us on twitter at twitter.com/tiki_toki.
If you are having any problems with Tiki-Toki, please contact us as at: help@tiki-toki.com
Close